Village News May 2018

May 1, 2018

New Staff Introduction

Hi! My name is Bailey Crawford, and I am the new Gospel Village Program Assistant! I previously served through Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas at Bell Elementary. I am so thankful to be apart of this awesome team and excited to serve each one of you.
I am from Tyler, born and raised, and I'm happily married to my husband of almost a year, Caden. He is the Contemporary Worship Leader at Southern Oaks Baptist Church here in town, where I sing along side him on occasion. We have one fur baby, named Blue.
As of this Friday, May 4th, I will have my Bachelor's in Mass Communication from UT Tyler. I was blessed by the scholarship through BGCET, and I'm very excited to be graduating. I look forward to the journeys ahead.
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24 ESV).
As you mentor these youth, my prayer is that with everything you do you will show Christ through your actions, words, and all of the above. As you build these relationships, do not lose hope or feel like you cannot finish the race. "But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8 ESV). Remember the Gospel in all things you do!

May Mentor/Mentee Event

Mentors! Join us May 10 from 6-8 p.m. at The Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas Building for a real-world simulation of life! This is a great opportunity to teach responsible decision-making to your mentees!

Mentor/Mentee Highlight

Derek Berry is the Youth Pastor at Southern Oaks Baptist Church, and Mentor to DeMarion Dewberry. DeMarion has been coming to church on Wednesdays for several months, where he has made a great friend that is his age. On Wednesdays, DeMarion hears the sermon and then joins small group discussions with the youth workers. The past couple of months, he has been asking very good questions, such as, “If you get saved, are you no longer yourself?” and saying, “I feel God is calling me, but I feel that I may need to lose some things.” Derek explained that Salvation is free, but that it comes with a cost. DeMarion said to Derek, “I’m close, but I’m just not there yet,” to which Derek told him there is no rush. Since that conversation, DeMarion regularly tells Derek “I love you,” and also tells him to tell Krystal, his wife, that he loves her too.

Last week, Derek spoke on 1 Timothy 4. Afterward, he and DeMarion had a great discussion once again. In the car ride home, DeMarion said, “If I die, I don’t know where I’ll go.” Derek told him there IS a way to know, and explained the Gospel once more. In doing this, Derek did two things: he emphasized the cost and commitment of following Christ, and encouraged DeMarion to respond to the Spirit. DeMarion then said he wanted to give his life to God. He articulated the Gospel in a very accurate and genuine way, with tears in his eyes, and they prayed together. What an amazing story of salvation! Praise God!